Line blind



Nov. 30, 1954 I L. s. HAMER 2,695,633

LINE BLIND Filed Jan. 1l, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l i es www y TTOPNEY Nov. 30, 1954 L. s. HAMER 2,695,633

LINE BLIND Filed Jan. 11, 1947 2 sheets-sheet 2 7 2G n ss 7o 7| 73 a7 e2 72 e2 asv @.44 76 70 77 79f7| 8O 78 E /N VEN TOE g-@Jaim nv WM United States Patent() LINE BLIND Leland S. Hamer, Long Beach, Calif., assignor of onefourth to Paul A. Dewhirst, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 11, 1947, Serial No. 721,532 8 Claims. (Cl. 13S-94.3)

This invention has to do with a multiple line blind, it being a general object of the present invention to provide a practical, compact, unitary structure having a plurality of fluid passages each under control of the line blind. The structure of the present invention is in the nature of a T-type manifold involving `a plurality of branches such as oppositely disposed aligned side branches and a lateral intermediate branch, each of which branches forms a plate seat and carries a plate clamp so a blinding plate or ilow controlling plate is handled thereby.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a manifold of the character referred to having a principal portion or body with several branches, which body is of simple inexpensive design, making it practical to manufacture and desirable in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a manifold of the general character referred to including means for operating the several plate clamps provided on the branches of the body, which means are simple and dependable in operation and are so related and disposed as to be readily accessible, making the structure practical and convenient in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a manifold of the general character referred to wherein the operating means for the plate clamps on the side branches of the manifold are confined to the side branches, leaving the middle or central portion of the body free and unobstructed to accommodate the operating means for the plate clamp on the lateral branch of the manifold. r

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a practical, easily operated and accessible operating mechanism for the plate clamp provided on the 1ateral` extension or branch of a multiple manifold.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: p Fig. 1 is a plan view of a typical manifold embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 2 2 on Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1 Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 4 4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan section taken as indicated by line SS on Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 3.

The structure or fitting provided by the present invention will be referred to as a manifold since it is a composite structure incorporating in one unit a plurality of iiow controlling or line blinding plates each provided in connection with or at a branch of a central or common Y' body, which branches are in communication with each other through the body. The manifold that I have provided can be used to advantage in various situations and it can be arranged in any desired manner. However, for

simplicity of description I have referred to Fig. l as bemg a plan view of the structure since it will in most instances be used in conjunction with horizontally disposed pipe lines or the like and all of the several branches will be horizontally disposed. It is to be understood, howa lateral branch 11 projecting from a central `or middle ever, that this particular arrangement of the structure is ICC portion '12. Flow controlling or blinding plates B are provided at the ends of the several branches of the body and plate clamps C are mounted on and guided by the outer end portions of the branches of the body to hold plates in cooperation with the branches of the body. Operating means D are provided in connection withthe plate clamps C on the side branches 10 of the body and operating means E is provided in connection with the plate clamp C on the lateral branch 11 of the body.

The body A resembles a T-ftting in that it is a hollow structure or unit in which the several tubular branch portions are connected together through the middle portion 12 so that the several branches are in. communication with each other. In the preferred form of the invention `the side branches 10 of the body are tubular parts alike `in form and construction and arranged in alignment with each other so that they are on a common axis or center. The central portion 12 of the body occurs between the side branches 10 so that the side branches are separated a substantial distance in order to accommodate the parts incidental to the lateral branch and the plate clamp incidental thereto.

A feature of the construction that I have provided is that the several branches of the body may be alike in size and formation and in accordance with the preferred form of the invention the outer face of each branch of the body is nished in a plane normal or trans verse to the longitudinal i axis of that branch of the body to form a plate seat. Further, the outer end portion of each branch of the body has its exterior finished at 21` to slidably support a plate clamp as will be hereinafter described. In the particular case illustrated the outer end portion of each body branch is somewhat enlarged as at 22 and the exterior of such end enlargement is turned concentric with the branch of the body in order to form `a` support to slidably carry a plate clamp.

The several plate clamps C involved in the structure may be alike in form and construction and in accordance with my invention a plate clamp C is carried on the outer end portion of each branch of the body. Each plate clamp preferably includes a tubular body portion 2S corresponding, generally, in size with the branch of the body A to which the plate clamp is to be applied. A suitable pipe connection such as a flange 26 or the like is preferably provided on or at the outer end of each clamp body while an enlargement or chest 27 is provided at the inner end of the clamp body. The chest forms a chamber or receptacle for a plate B and is provided at one `side of the clamp preferably at the upper side, with an access opening 28 through which the plate is movable into and out of operating position. An axial opening 29 is provided in the chest 27 to admit the end portion of a branch of body A to the chest to engage a plate located in the chest. The opening 29 is preferably bored or otherwise formed so that it is concentric with the body of the plate clamp and is made to slidably receive the guide portion 21 on the end of the body branch to which the plate clamp is applied. A plate seat 30 is provided in the chest 27 opposite the seat 20 on the end of the branch of body A entering the chest so that the plate B when in place is conned or clamped between the seats 20 and 30, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In practice I preferably provide suitable packing means at 31and 32 to pack between the plate and the seats 34) and 20 respectively. Likewise I prefer to provide suitable packing 33 between the guide portion 2l. and the plate a :lamp, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In practice the plate B employed in connection with any particular branch of the body A may be of any suitable character. For instance it may be a ow controlling plate or a line blinding plate, as Icircumstances require. In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have shown a blinding plate in place or I have shown a blinding end 36 of a plate in place, whereas in Fig. 3 I have shown an apertured end 37 of a plate in place. The particular plates illustrated in the drawings are double ended plates each having a blinding portion 36 at one end and an aperture or orifice portion 37 at the other end.

The operating means D provided in connection with each side branch 10 of the body A or to operate the plate clamp on each side branch 10 is preferably conned to the side branch leaving the central or middle portion 12 -of the body A free and unobstructed to accommodate the operating means E for the plate clamp C provided on the lateral branch 11 of the body. Each means D includes a plurality of studs 40 projecting from the chest end of the plate clamp to be operated and nuts 41 threaded to the studs and carried by lugs 42 projecting from the branch of the body on which the said means D is located. In practice I may vary the number of studs provided on the plate clamp and may vary the arrangement of studs. However, ordinarily it is desirable to provide four studs 40 and to locate them 90 apart around the branch 10 in the manner illustrated throughout the drawings. Each stud 4t) is shown provided with a threaded end 43 made fast in a tapped opening 44 in the chest portion of the plate clamp C The projecting end portion 45 of each stud is threaded and has threaded engagement with an operating nut 41.

Each operating nut 41 is provided with a turned shank portion 46 rotatably carried in an opening 47 provided in a body lug 42 and an enlargement or head 48 is provided on one end of the shank 46 and is shaped or formed to receive or to accommodate a suitable operating tool such as a bar or the like. In the case illustrated each head 48 is provided with a plurality of apertures 49 tofaccommodate an operating rod or bar. A tapped opening 50 is provided in the nut from one end, preferably from the shank end, to receive the threaded end 45 of a stud 40. In practice I prefer to provide a suitable lubricant port 51 communicating with the inner end of the tapped opening 50 so that lubricant can be supplied to the threaded parts through a suitable fitting 52. The shank portion 46 of the nut is rotatably supported in the opening 47 in lug 42 and is retained in connection with the lug by a collar 53 held on the end of the shank by a split ring or the like 54.

The lugs 42 carrying the several studs 40 are preferably located on the branch portion of body A to lbe as close as practical to the end of the body carrying the place clamp C and in the preferred form of the invention the lugs are formed or cast integrally on the body as shown throughout the drawings. In the preferred arrangement of parts the tapped openings 50 of the nuts 41 that receive the threaded portions 45 of the studs are located within the Shanks of the nuts 41 and the said threaded portions of the studs project into the lugs 42 providing a simple compact arrangement of parts. The heads 48 are in the nature of enlargements on the Shanks of the nuts and bear against the side of the lugs 42 so that the nuts can be operated to cause the plate clamp carrying the studs to be drawn toward the lugs 42 against which the nuts bear. This general arrangement of parts is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The operating means E for the plate clamp C on the lateral branch 11 of the body A involves a plurality of studs 70 projecting from the chest 27 of said plate clamp through guides 71 on the middle portion or section 12 of the body A to be engaged by nuts 72 on the ends of the studs 70 remote from the plate clamp, which nuts 72 are rotatably carried in a frame 73 having a foot 74 bearing on an abutment 75 projecting from the body A. Each stud 70 has a threaded inner end 76 made tight in the chest portion of the said plate clamp C and has a turned stem portion 77 slidably carried in an opening 79 in a guide 71. The guides 71 are preferably lugs projecting from the middle portion of the body as clearly illustrated in Figs. l and 4 of the drawings. The outer end portions 78 of each stud 70 is threaded into a nut 72 preferably into the shank portion 80 of the nut 72, which shank portion is rotatably carried in an opening 81 provided in a boss S2 on the outer end of an arm portion 83 of frame 73. The arm 83 of frame 73 is supported from the foot 74 by legs 84 and the foot 74 bears on the abutment 75 projecting from the exterior of the body A. In the preferred arrangement of parts there are four studs 70 spaced substantially equal distances around the aXis of the lateral branch of body A in which case two studs 70 occur at which I will term the upper side of the body A while two occur at the lower side of the body.

Each nut 72 is provided with an enlargement or head 85 on shank 80 to abut the boss 82 which passes the shank of the nut. The enlargements or heads 85 may like the heads 48 be formed or shaped to accommodate suitable operating tools as for instance bars or the like, in which case they are provided with openings 86 as Jshown in the drawings. The shanks of the nuts are retained in the openings 81 by collars 87 held in place by retainers such as lsplit rings-S8 or the like.

In the preferred arrangement of parts each frame 73 carries two bosses 82 and when there are four studs 70 one frame is located at the upper side of the body while the other is located at the lower side of the body. If both sides, that is, both the upper and lower sides of the body, are readily accessible, the studs 70 may be uniform in length and the abutments 75 and frames 73 may be made uniform in size and may correspond in location so that the heads S5 of the operating nuts are opposite each other or are correspondingly located at `the upper and lower sides of the body. However, in many instances Where the manifold may be used it will be more accessible either from the upper side or from the lower side. In such case I prefer to form and proportion the parts of the structure just described so that the heads of the operating nuts at the two sides of the body are staggered, making them readily accessible from ,one side of the body. In the case illustrated I have shown an arrangement making all of the heads 55 readily accessible from the upper or top side of the structure. In thiscase the studs 76 at the lower side of the body are somewhat longer than those at the top side of the body, and the abutment 75 on the lower side of the body is so located as to carry the frame 73 at the lower side of the body so that the bosses 82 thereof are further removed from the plate clamp being operated than are the bosses on the frame at the top side of the body. This relationship of parts is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings from which it will be apparent how this arrangement of parts makes all of the nut heads 85 controlling the plate clamp on the lateral branch 11 of the body readily accessible from the top or upper side of the body.

In the preferred form of the invention the abutments 75 may be mere simple lugs formed integrally on the body or they may be welded thereto as circumstances may require. The frames 73 may be parts formed separate from the other elements ofthe structure and they may be shaped and proportioned to lie close to the upper and lower sides of the body when the structure is assembled as shown throughout the drawings. The stems 77 of the studs 70 are guided by the lugs 71 and when the operating nuts guided by the bosses on the frames are applied to the studs 70 the frames are held in proper position to bear on the abutments.

It is to be understood that the plate clamp C provided on the lateral branch 11 of body A and operated by means E accommodates a plate B in the maner above described, so that the lateral branch of the body, like the side branches, is under control of such plate. From the foregoing description it will be understood how the structure that I have provided can be used to advantage in a pipe line or a manifold so that the structure or manifold that I have provided becomes a part thereof affording eifective iiow control. With the ittingor manifold of the present invention iiow can be controlled through each of the several branches of the body and the operating means for each of the plate clamps is readily accessible making the structure easy and vconvenient to operate. It is also to be notedthat the structure that I have provided is not only simple and inexpensive of manufacture, but that it is compact andoccupies but a limited space, the arrangement of parts being such that the operating means E is accommodated by the two operating means D so that the plate clamp C on the lateral branch of the body may be located immediately adjacent the middle portion 12 of the body so that the manifold can be used in place of an ordinary T- fitting by simply spreading the connections Aapplicable to the side branches of the structure, that is, the manifold that I have provided is similar, generally, to an ordinary T-fitting except that it is somewhat wider than an ordinary T-fltting, although the lateral connection may correspond to that of an ordinary or standard T- fitting.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art andfall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A fitting of the character described including, a ,bodyhaving a main portion and `a tnbularfbranch projecting laterally therefrom, a plate clamp slidably carried by said branch of the body, a plate clamped between the clamp and body, and means operating the clamp relative to the body including a stud projecting from the clamp, a guide on the exterior of the body spaced from the clamp and guiding the stud, a nut on the end of the stud remote from the clamp and spaced from the guide, and a frame with a part on the stud and engaged by the nut and a part bearing on the exterior of the body. Y

2. A fitting of the character described including, a body having a main portion having a shouldered abutment on the exterior thereof and a tubular branch projecting laterally therefrom, a plate clamp slidably carried by said branch of the body, a plate clamped between the clamp and body, and means operating the clamp relative to the body including a stud carried by and projecting from the clamp past the abutment, a guide on the body slidably guiding the stud, a nut on the projecting end portion of the stud, and a frame with a part slidable on the stud and engaged by the nut and with a shoe bearing on the abutment.

3. A tting of the character describedv including, a body having a main portion and a tubular branch project ing laterally therefrom, there being a shouldered abutment on the exterior of the body, a plate clamp slidably carried by said branch of the body, a plate clamped between the clamp and body, and means operating the clamp relative to the body including spaced studs fixed to and projecting from the clamp to overlie the body and extend past the abutment, spaced guides on the exterior of the body slidably supporting the studs, nuts on the outer end portions of the studs, and a frame with spaced parts slidable on the studs and engaged by the nuts and a single shoe portion bearing on the abutment on the body.

4. A tting of the character described including, a shouldered body having a main portion and a tubular branch projecting laterally from one side of said main portion, a plate clamp slidably carried by said branch of the body, a plate clamped between the clamp and body, and means operating the clamp relative to the body including spaced parallel studs projecting from the clamp at the exterior of the body and extending to the opposite side of the body, spaced guides on the exterior of the body slidably supporting the studs, a frame supported on a shoulder of the body and engaging the studs, and nuts on the outer end portions of the studs and bearing on the frame, one nut being further removed from the clamp than the other so the nuts occur a dlialftrent elevations relative to said opposite side of e o y.

5. A fitting including, a body having a flow passage therethrough and an exterior shoulder, a clamp member slidably engaged with the body at one end of the passage, a plate between the clamp and body, a plurality of projections fixed on the clamp and extending at the exterior of the body, a frame separate from the body and having a shoe supported on the exterior shoulder of the body and apertured parts slidably carrying the projections, and operating members threaded on the projections and bearing on said parts of the frame.

6. A fitting including, a body having a ow passage therethrough and a branch projecting from one side thereof, a clamp slidably engaged with the branch of the body, a plate between the clamp and body, a plurality of elongate parallel projections on the clamp and extending at the exterior of the body to the other side thereof, a frame supported on the exterior of the body with spaced parts slidably carrying the projections and with a shoe between said parts and bearing on the exterior of the body, and a plurality of operating members threaded on the projections and bearing on said parts of the frame and operating to move the projections relative to the frame.

7. A fitting including, a body with shoulders thereon and having a ow passage therethrough and having a branch projecting from one side, a clamp slidably engaged with the branch of the body, a plate between the clamp and body, a plurality of spaced projections on the clamp at the exterior of the body, frames supported by the shoulders of the body opposite each other on the exterior of the body, and operating members threaded on the projections at the opposite side of the body and bearing on the frame.

8. A tting including, a body having a flow passage therethrough and having spaced guide lugs and a shoulder at each side, body at one end of the passage, a plate between the clamp and body, a plurality of parallel projections on the'clamp and each slidably carried by a guide, frames supported on the exterior of the body each in engagement with a shoulder, and a plurality of operating members threaded on the projections and each bearing on a frame.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,613,138 Seymour Jan. 4, 1927 2,271,138 Hamer Jan. 27, 1942 2,339,970 Young Jan. 25, 1944 2,425,934 Hamer Aug. 19, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 498,049 France Apr. 9, 1919 a clamp slidably engaged with the 

